Underrated reels that have impressed you?

[Damned67]

Like most, I'm a bit of a gear 'snob'. Granted, to some others, my gear is still 'cheap'. My fav combo is my Egrell S10 and 4000 Certate. I have a few Sols, heartlands, and stradics etc, but I got to thinking about underrated reels today.
Some years ago, I bought my first 'expensive' reel. It was close to $100, and a Okuma Hardstone 30 that I bought from BCF. It's been a great reel for the money, I really can't fault it. Anyway, I'm passing it on to a mate that's just getting into fishing. I've been using it on the yak coupled to a 7'6" Raider (which I'm also passing on so he has a reasonable combo).
I wanted to replace it with something 'decent' but 'cheap' for use on the yak. Today i picked up an Abu Soron SX20 from Go Fishing at Nerang for $90. I bought my son an SX60 a year ago and was highly impressed with it, hence no hesitation at purchasing the SX20.
Anyway, spooling it up with braid this evening, I was again reminded of just how nice it really is, especially for the price.
The Features?


6 HPCR™ Bearings for Corrosion Resistance
Corrosion resistant instant anti reverse bearing
X-Cräftic™ Alloy, Body and body Cover for Corrosion Resistance
Sealed Carbon Matrix™ Drag System for Ultra Smooth Drag
Duragear™ Gears for Long Life
SuperLine and Mono Aluminum Spools Included

It's a sweet little reel for the price I paid. Granted, most places seem to sell them for $160-170, and I don't know why they're so cheap at Go Fishing (they don't seem to be on sale there?), but even at $160, I'd still consider them good value! No Shimano or Daiwa reel I've personally bought in that price range come close to it.

Last year I also bought a Quantum Cabo PT70 (from a thread on this site about them) for something like $100. Granted, it seems their original price was around $300. At $300, it'd be a good deal in my opinion, but for $100, it was a steal. Anyway, that reel doesn't really count because of it's original price tag.

So, enough of my waffle, what budget reels have you bought that you've been impressed by?

Cheers!

[Fafnir]

Daiwa Proshooter 1500. Excellent little reel for under $100. Never gives me any trouble. Can't recall it ever throwing an airknot even when casting light lures. Metal body, solid as, nice enough drag. Can't fault it, particularly for the money.

[NAGG]

It depends on who's budget ;) What I would consider budget would be someone else's top shelf .
But playing along ...... reels that have put a smile on my face have generally been imported and landed at some ridiculous price when compared to the local price or offering

Here is a awesome example :P

www.tacklewarehouse.com/Team_Daiwa_Fuego-A_Spinning_Reels/descpage-TDFA.html

This is the US version of the Daiwa Luvius which sells for $400ish here - you can land the Fuego for just over A$200 . This is one very sweet reel 8-)
It just goes to show that you can buy some extremely good gear ....... quality known brands without breaking the bank ... and you dont have to settle for gear that may or may not last !- Because as I have often seen , it is more often than not " hit and miss" .
me ......I like highly rated as opposed to underrated in my tackle ;)

Good thread

Chris

[tunaticer]

The reel i think that is most often overlooked is a Shimano Symetre for around the 150 mark. A seriously good reel for its size and dollar value. I have one still in good service that is over 15 yrs old now I think, caught thousands of nice fish and even had a holiday on the bottom off Redcliffe for a week a few years ago and still works well. All I did after the extended submersal was strip it down and replace $15 worth of bearings, regrease and reassemble. I now have about 5 of these reels and a few Stradics and a Saros, Not a whole lot of difference between the Stradics and the Symetres though.

[MudRiverDan]

Okuma Aquios

[FishHunter]

Shimano Sienna, drowned it every weekend on the kayak for nearly 2 years never maintained it and landed lots of largish Trevally's on it. Pretty good for a $60 reel.

[Horse]

I picked up a Cabelas Prodigy a few years ago on special and landed it for under $100.00. They are made by Daiwa and are probably a rebadged Tierra or such. It has lasted very well
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fishing-Reels/Spinning-Reels%7C/pc/104793480/c/104760180/sc/104837580/Cabelas-Prodigy174-Spinning-Reel/703415.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffishi ng-fishing-reels-spinning-reels%2F_%2FN-1102842%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104837580%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat104793 480%253Bcat104760180&WTz_l=SBC%3Bcat104793480%3Bcat104760180%3Bcat10483 7580

[NAGG]

I guess for the price ....... The Shimano baitrunners stood out over the years - I bought an original 4500 and it's still going after 15 years or more.

Chris

[coucho]

diawa excellor 1500 on my river plastic rod awesome reel $120 done everything asked of it and never had the slightest issue.

[Apollo]

I have a couple of Shimano FX2500 that are 20 odd years old. They were given to me by my brother and cost about $20 each as a combo. They got abused sensely for over a decade catching everything from bream to flatties to salmon to mullet to tailor and even a few jew. I eventually moved to the stradic and so as the kids came along, I teamed the FXs up with pink ugly sticks and let them loose. Again they have handled tailor, bream, flatties, small spotties and trevs. Last year, when fishing with the girls, the little FX screamed into action whilst it was 'snack' time, so I got to fight and land a 80cm Golden Trev on that combo. Had a ball on 4lb line and it still had reasonable smooth drag (never been replaced) and handled the job very well. I did pull both reels apart and some wear is evident, but I doubt they won't last another decade. Top little budget reels that fight well above their weight and have lasted a treat. Don't know is a modern FX is any good (doubt it), but the old ones were a great bit of gear.

I agree with the baitrunners and would have to throw Penn 113 in the mix as well.

[reggy]

Not so much under rated, but more never heard of.
The only thing it never did well is wind line on evenly, but still very smooth after 14 years.
All brass gears and all metal body and rotor.77012

[alleycat]

I have just bought a diawa aird for my son, you can get them for 120$, very nice little reel..

[softplasticsdude79]

Shimano Sienna, drowned it every weekend on the kayak for nearly 2 years never maintained it and landed lots of largish Trevally's on it. Pretty good for a $60 reel.

yep,have to agree,dont use them anymore,but gave 2 x 2500 and a 4000,around 5 years of abuse,and didnt fail once.

[thelump]

Flueger Torsion 30 Lever Drag. Cheap as chips (combo $150) and landed some of the best fish I have ever caught including a 32kg cobia. It was matched up to an 8 ft live fibre that was given to me as a second hand as a gift. Unfortunately it went flying off the side of me mates boat out from Moreton. I now have a Torsion 50 that I got at the boat show for $95 but am yet to spool it up. Leaving it in case I lose my TLD I am using now!

[goat boy]

yep,have to agree,dont use them anymore,but gave 2 x 2500 and a 4000,around 5 years of abuse,and didnt fail once.
haha, I have a 4000 Sienna that I have absolutely flogged to death, I've used it on the beach casting small slugs (and drowning it cos I didn't care about it) and as a loaner on the boat (again, it cops a bit of abuse like this) and it is still going strong after 5 years of neglect.
I paid around $60 for it and reckon it's performed above expectations in style

[cuzzamundi]

Bought my niece a 13 dollar Jarvis Walker rod and reel from $mart couple of years ago. After she failed to make much use of it, I added it to my arsenal, and decided to use it to target bread and butters whilst going for bigger species. Have caught countless bream, whiting, flatties, dart, trevs, and even a decent jack on it. Re-spooled it with better quality 6lb line, but apart from that, no alterations. And guess what, she's still going - caught me tea the other night. I own a few reels, two worth well over a grand, but pound for pound, this girl has punched well above her weight. Ya just never know!

Cuzza

[nigelr]

I have at least half a dozen Daiwa Sealine star drags I've picked up very cheap off Ebay over the years; bit of a clean-up, bit of grease, maybe some new drag washers, good for another 10 years.......great old reels!
Also bought new a Daiwa Sealine Lever Drag 20; fabulous reel for the price. I sold it on because I didn't have enough use for it at the time but for the price this series are beaut reels IMHO.
Solid as and with a great drag, bit big and heavy for my comparatively shallow 10 and 15kg inshore bottom-bashing work though.

[krazyfisher]

Shimano charter special one of the greatest al round saltwater reels

[alantani]

the shimano tld star 15/30! http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=17.0

[Giveitacrack]

One my favourites is the first series of the Daiwa Exceller in the 2000 size on a 2-4 kg 7ft Strudwick Sik stik.About $160 for both and still like using them alongside GLoomis-Certate combo and other etc.

[reggy]

77084
the shimano tld star 15/30! http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=17.0
Aint that the truth!!! Got mine for $120 on sale...added a Calcutta handle and best reef fishing reel I have.

[Feral]

anaconda entrex 2000 spinning reels. bought 3 of them for the kids to bait fish for bass 2 years ago when on special for 10 bucks each.. They have had an absolute flogging and are still working as good as the day I got them, nice smooth reels to.

[davo]

Surecatch Morex. I have one and my mate has two. I'd love a dollar for every mackeral and tuna it's caught. Looks like a Certate rip off

[lucee81]

i have to give a vote to the Shimano Charter special as well i have 1 and would happily have another.

[madmaskbass]

daiwa excellor plus 2500 bought for $99 three years ago caught sooo many fish including a number of barra the biggest being a 75cm..still used all the time i love it because it gives me confidence and i dont have to babay it like my certate..my mate uses a okuma epix that has held up really well after 6odd years..maybe more

[wamjam]

Awesome thread... No need for the perfect gear... Its all about the thrill of the hunt... A PB on cheap gear is worth more than a PB caught on an over priced set up made for the job... Catching a above average fish on a cheapy also changers your way of thinking and makes you a better fisher person.

My favourite underrated or not talked about so much reel is the 5000, 5500 or 5600 ABU bait caster. Anyone who uses bait casting set ups that have not used an ABU have miss out... They are the benchmark.

Scott

[Heath]

Suteki Reels. I have a few of them now and have had them for several years giving them a flogging. Just as good as comparable Shimano, etc IMO.

[nathank]

For me deffo the tld series..

[The Woo]

I agree Nathan.

TLD's have accounted for a lot of fish.

But, my biggest vote goes to the Shimano 6500 Baitrunner. $179 and when coupled to a nice spin rod will account for nearly anything. We've caught Blacks to 400lb (one a notable 3hr fight) on them.

[Damned67]

No need for the perfect gear... Its all about the thrill of the hunt... A PB on cheap gear is worth more than a PB caught on an over priced set up made for the job... Catching a above average fish on a cheapy also changers your way of thinking and makes you a better fisher person.

That was part of the reason for starting this thread. I love my certate, it's a beautiful reel. And many of my other reels have been previously mentioned in this thread. I particularly like my Charter Special with the carbontex drag upgrade, and if I'm planning on bait fishing, my bait runner is at the top of my list. That said, the little Soron that I bought, leading to this thread, is just magic. I decided to check out the drag on it the other day. The drag washers aren't held in with a little clip, but an o-ringed screw in plate! and they appear to be carbon fibre washers! I'm simply stunned at the quality of this reel. If I could be bothered, I'd pull it apart and take some pics, but that's not the purpose of this thread. (Hey ABU, if you wan to toss some free gear my way for the advert, feel free!)

Anyway, like when I first started out with little money and less experience, there a plenty of newcomers (and old salts too, I bet), looking for quality reels on a budget (we wont even start on rods!). I hope there's some ideas in this thread for those on a budget, like myself more often than not, for reels that punch well above their weight in the quality:price stakes.

[Brent_P]

If I could be bothered, I'd pull it apart and take some pics, but that's not the purpose of this thread.

Someone else beat you to it...

http://www.alanhawk.com/reviews/soro.html

[deepfried]

A penn spin fisher may not be that under rated to some and value for money they are hard to beat for saltwater use when comparing spin reels. I have seen them outlast dearer reels when used for jigging, bottom bashing, slow trolling livies etc etc. they do it all for a price that you can be happy to toss it out and by a new one without any second thought. A good reel for mates that don't fish that often that you don't want using your good gear :)

[NAGG]

A penn spin fisher may not be that under rated to some and value for money they are hard to beat for saltwater use when comparing spin reels. I have seen them outlast dearer reels when used for jigging, bottom bashing, slow trolling livies etc etc. they do it all for a price that you can be happy to toss it out and by a new one without any second thought. A good reel for mates that don't fish that often that you don't want using your good gear :)

It's a shame that the newer ones are not a patch on the ones available during the 90's ........... but yeh if you had to shove a big spin reel in a mates hand , it wouldn't be a bad choice

Chris

[Fed]

I've been using a 4/0 Everol (red plate) for 35 years without missing a beat, I don't even wash it.

[nigelr]

I've been using a 4/0 Everol (red plate) for 35 years without missing a beat, I don't even wash it.

That's the beauty of being able to buy quality!
Prolly still worth what you paid for it, too!

[death_ship]

Shimano Sedona. I have abused one for years fishing plastics for snapper and I ts still going. Check the drag specs on em. They take more drag than most of the shimano top shelf reels. The 4000 was 90 bucks.

[gpz1991]

Had a silstar bt 30 that was abused for 10 + years until mate droped it over board and have punished a few pen spin fishers and slammers with heavy braid on tuna and sharks with no problems

[HeadBanger]

Penn Senators. I have a 4/0 113 that was made in the mid 70s, which I recently bought off eBay for $50. They have a massive following over in the states, but a lot of kids my age haven't even heard of them haha.

Cheers,
Kaidon

[diabolical]

Penn Senators. I have a 4/0 113 that was made in the mid 70s, which I recently bought off eBay for $50. They have a massive following over in the states, but a lot of kids my age haven't even heard of them haha.

Cheers,
Kaidon


If you think they are a good reel ........... have a look at the Penn 113hn Baja Special.

http://alantani.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=r9u50drlpos1uioc4e3s2rjpf5&topic=14.0

[Tumbo59]

I have a Mitchell 4470 spinning reel that I bought somewhere in the mid to late 70's(best guess), I used and abused that reel for years trolling, spinning lures and bottom bashing. It has been packed away since the early 90's(again best guess). I unpacked it a few weeks back and tested it on my dog. Surprised to say it worked perfectly with the drag as smooth as ever.

[odes20]

I've been using a 4/0 Everol (red plate) for 35 years without missing a beat, I don't even wash it.

Anyone who doesnt even wash their reels shouldnt mention it! Ha Ha I loaned a mate one of my Daiwa Saltist overheads recently for a one morning troll. It came back a month later still unwashed and had obviiously been drenched with a lot of spray in the boat. Pulled it apart and removed all the influence of salt water and fortunately no bearings were damaged.

To be real though all reels are basically a lesser or greater glorified winch and it seems to me that all reels retrieve line and whatever is attached to the end. What it feels like in that process is where fishos differ in their personal values of what is a great reel or not. My wife, having wound in my Saltiga Z40 at the reef 2 years ago, has never been happy since, until I got her something as smooth! She is a spin reel person so I have satisfied her with the smoothness of a Shimano Twinpower 6500 PG Sorry if I got off subject a little
Cheers

[shincism1]

My shimano symetre 1000. It's on its 2nd rod, which is also snapped... And I can't kill it. Washed it in salt water. Forcibly Held open the bail to cast half pillies that were way to big for it. Fitted it with 6, 8 and 15lb line. Rarely ever looked after it. Dropped it in the sand. Etc etc. And it won't die. Great Little reel. Sits with no line atm as I've just upgraded size to a 2500 daiwa Aird. Would update on that if I had any time on it. But she's only spankas